How big is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park?

More than 600,000 acres, or roughly 1,000 square miles. It is the largest state park in California and the third largest in the United States, spanning parts of San Diego, Riverside and Imperial counties.

How much does it cost to enter Anza-Borrego?

Day use is $10 per vehicle, collected at the Visitor Center, developed campgrounds and several popular trailheads including The Slot and Hellhole Canyon. The park has no entrance gates and much of it can be accessed without a fee.

When is wildflower season at Anza-Borrego?

Annual wildflowers can appear from January through mid-April, with peak bloom most often between late February and early April. Timing varies year to year based on rainfall and temperature.

Is Anza-Borrego a Dark Sky Park?

Yes. The park was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2018 at Silver tier. Borrego Springs, the town at its center, has been an International Dark Sky Community since 2009, the first in California.

Do I need four-wheel drive at Anza-Borrego?

Not for the paved roads, the Visitor Center or the main campgrounds. The vast majority of the park's roughly 500 miles of dirt roads do require a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park open at night?

Yes, the park is open 24 hours a day, year-round. The Visitor Center is open daily 9am to 5pm October through May, and weekends and holidays only June through September.

Cassie N. Saunders, County of San Diego Communications Office • August 7, 2026

County Launches Third Round of Shallow Rental Subsidy Program for Older Adults

By Cassie N. Saunders, County of San Diego Communications Office

Nearly 200 older adults will start receiving a $500 a month in rental assistance next year through the County’s third round of the Shallow Rental Subsidy Program.

The County is now accepting applications and will continue until 195 qualified households are accepted. Monthly payments to landlords are expected to begin in early 2027.

The program offers $500 a month for 18 months to low-income older adults age 60 and older who are struggling with rising rental costs and are at risk of losing their housing.

“This rental support gives older adults a better chance to stay in their homes and avoid homelessness. It is a practical step toward meeting the needs of our aging community,” said Dijana Beck, director of County Office of Homeless Solutions. To qualify, applicants must be severely rent burdened with a household income at or below 30 percent of the Area Median Income.

People who have questions can email their full name and contact information to AHHSseniorprogram@equitablesolutions.com or call (619) 780-3684. 

The Shallow Rental Subsidy Program is part of the County’s broader efforts to expand housing support and strengthen safety-net services for residents who need them most.

The program launched as a pilot in 2023 after data showed that one-quarter of people experiencing homelessness in San Diego County were older adults. Funding for the third round was approved in the fiscal year 2025-26 Second Quarter Operational Plan Status Report and Budget Adjustments, and carried forward into the fiscal year 2026-27 amended budget.

Cassie N. Saunders is a communications specialist with the County of San Diego Communications Office.

Learn More About Borrego Springs

Renate Nishio holistic bodywork brochure, Borrego Springs

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By Andrea McKenna • November 10, 2026

Phil Mickelson called her with food poisoning two days before Torrey Pines. Meet Renate Nishio, who helped make Borrego Springs a place people come to heal.

Jim and Anne Wermers: Taking Care of Borrego

By Andrea McKenna • November 9, 2026

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By Andrea McKenna • November 8, 2026

St. Richard Catholic Church in Borrego Springs has served the desert for more than 70 years. Now the parish and Christ the King Mission need help to stay open.

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By Andrea McKenna • November 3, 2026

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By Andrea McKenna • October 30, 2026

Priest, director and longtime friend of Borrego's stage: a look at Father George Keith's years at St. Barnabas and the Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center.

Tennis for Health: Borrego’s Own Elite Pro Has Been Teaching the “Sport of a Lifetime” Here for Decades

By Andrea McKenna • October 29, 2026

Photo courtesy of Mike Rogers.

In Memory of Joan Delores Rosen

By Martin, Dirk and Marika Rosen • October 26, 2026

Joan Delores Rosen, 95, Remembered for a Life of Art, Adventure and Conservation

How Do I Love Thee? Reflections on a Life in Borrego Springs

By Shirley Vialpando • October 23, 2026

For Shirley Vilapando, Borrego Springs has always been more than a place to live. It has been a community of friendship, faith, support and belonging.

Tony Cecena to Lead Both Borrego Springs Resorts

By Andrea McKenna • October 13, 2026

The lifelong Borregan will oversee Borrego Springs Resort while continuing as General Manager of La Casa del Zorro. Tony Cecena has been appointed General Manager of Borrego Springs Resort in addition to his current role leading La Casa del Zorro, according to an announcement shared by Chris Adams. The appointment brings together two familiar desert destinations under shared leadership. La Casa del Zorro offers guest rooms and private casitas, dining, pools, tennis and pickleball. Borrego Springs Resort features rooms and suites with mountain or pool views, a heated pool and lighted tennis courts. For Cecena, the expanded role reconnects him with a property where he spent 22 years working across hotel and food operations, technology, accounting and sales. He began his hospitality career at La Casa del Zorro while attending high school. Adams described the arrangement as a partnership rooted in cooperation and collaboration, praising Cecena’s passion for hospitality. With deep ties to both properties, Cecena brings decades of experience and a longstanding commitment to the Borrego Springs community.

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